Colorado Animal Welfare Conference Session
How to Decide: A Balanced Decision-Making Model for the Most Difficult Choices
10:30am – noon • August 18, 2026
City Lights 1
Leadership
Need an easier way to make (and talk about) animal treatment, outcome, and resource allocation decisions? Finally–a balanced decision-making model for the most difficult choices! In this session, you’ll learn a proven methodology for making the toughest calls in an effective, sustainable way while delivering outstanding animal care and combatting compassion stress for your people. The model works in agencies of all sizes, budgets, philosophies, and intake approaches and you’ll leave with all of the tools you need to implement it right away.
rachel D.K. Finney
Finney spent 16 leaders leading Columbus Humane, 12 as CEO. She held a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator title for 18 years and served on several nonprofit Boards.
Finney was named one of the inaugural class of 2023 Women of Influence by Columbus Business First and 2015 Small Nonprofit CEO of the Year by Columbus CEO magazine. In 2013, she was recognized as a Forty Under 40 award winner.
Finney is a natural teacher and serves as a guest lecturer for nonprofit management, human resources, and veterinary students at The Ohio State University. She offers coaching, consulting, and training for corporations and nonprofit organizations inspiring teams to embrace and even benefit from the challenges they face.